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Get. i1, i938. E, H. SCHANE MG CALCULATOR Filed nec. 24. les@ ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. ll, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CALCULATOR Application December 24, 1936, Serial No. 117,592

Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for calculating or determining the size or length of lateral arm required to provide a lateral arm type awning having a predetermined projection 5 and drop, and/ or the minimum size of awning recess required to accommodate the same.

The trend in building construction is toward the use of awnings of the so-called lateral arm type, which are usually located in suitable awning recesses in the building, into which recesses the awnings are retractable when not in use. For any given conditions the determination of the correct size or length of lateral arm to be used to obtain an awning having a predetermined drop and projection presents some diiculty, as Well as does the determination of the correct or minimum size of awning recess necessary to accommodate the same where the awning is to be located in a recess.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel device for readily calculating or determining the correct size or length of lateral arm required to produce an awning of the lateral arm type having a specified projection and drop.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel device for readily calculating or determining the correct or minimum size of awning recess required to accommodate any particular awning of the lateral armtype.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel device for readily calculating or determiningfboth the correct size or length of arm required to produce an awning of the lateral arm type having a specified projection and drop, and the vcorrect or minimum size of awning recess required to accommodate the same.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, described With reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the various views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line IU-IO of Fig. l; and

Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive are detail views of various parts of the device shown in Figs. l and 2.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions the preferred embodiment thereof shown in the drawing and hereinafter described in detail is designed especially for determining the nearest size of lateral arm manufactured by the assignee of the present invention, known commercially as Fanner, and shown in my copending application Serial No. 28,103, which will produce an awning having a predetermined projection and drop, and/or the size of awning recess required to accommodate the same. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to use in connection with fixtures manufactured by the aforesaid company, but is equally applicable to other commercially known awning fixtures of the lateral arm type, as will be readily apparent.

For any given commercial awning or fixtures of the lateral arm type the lateral arms usually come in standard lengths, and the determination of the nearest size or length of lateral armwhich will produce an awning having a predetermined projection and drop, as previously stated ,presents some difficulty. This is equally true irrespective of whether the awning is to be attached to the face of the building or located in an awning recess into which it is adapted to be retracted when not in use. If the awning is to be located in an awning recess the minimum horizontal depth of the awning recess depends upon Whether or not the recess is to be provided with a door, etc., and remains constant for any particular commercial awning irrespective of the projection or drop, but the minimum vertical depth of the awning recess required to accommodate the awning varies for different conditions of projection and drop, i. e., as the inclination of the awning increases the vertical clearance required by the lateral arms increases. For the ready determination of the length of size of lateral arm required to produce a lateral arm type awning having a predetermined projection and drop, and/or the ready determination of the minimum vertical dimension of the awning recess which will accommodate any given awning of the aforesaid type, I have provided the device of the present invention, which, generally speaking, simulates a scale model of a vertical section through the wall of a building to which the awning is to be attached and the space adjacent thereto and into which the awning will project, and a lateral arm of the particular commercial type in question movable thereon. The whole thing being so constructed that it can be adjusted to represent or simulate any conditions encountered in actual practice.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character A designates a rectangular member or board made of metal, wood, cardboard, or similar suitable material, the upper' or rear left hand corner of which is provided with a plate B, in the present instance made of metal, hereinafter referred to as the anchor plate. The anchor plate B is attached to the board by a plurality of screws Ill, and has slidably or adjustably secured thereto two members or plates C and D. The member C is attached to the anchor plate B in such a manner that it can be moved horizontally, i. e., parallel to the upper or rear edgel of the board A, and the member D in such a manner that it can be moved vertically, i. e., parallel to the left hand edge of the board. As shown the member C is secured to the anchor plate B by a plurality of thumb screws or winged nuts Il and I2 threaded on screws I3 and it,

respectively, having square shanks which extend through an elongated slot I5 in the anchor plate B and square holes I6 and I1 in the member C. The heads of the screws I3 and Ifl ar-e underneath the anchor plate B and the board A thereunder is cut away as at IS to allow the screws to slide easily in the slot l5. The member or plate D is adjustably or movably secured to the anchor plate B in a similar manner by a screw I9, the square shank of which projects through an elongated slot 29 in the anchor plate B and a square hole 2i in the member D. The width of the slot 2G is such that it permits free sliding movement of the screw I9 therein while preventing rotation thereof. The board A is cut out underneath the head of the screw I9 as at 22. The screw lil has a winged nut 23 threaded onto the upper end thereof labove the member D by virtue of which the member may be clamped in any adjusted position.

The member C has an adjustable arm designated generally by the reference character E pivotally connected thereto by means of a rivet 25. 'I'he arin E simulates the particular commercial lateral arm under consideration and in the present instance the rotational movement of the arm E about the pivot 25 is limited by a pin 26 xed thereto which projects into an arcuate slot 21 in the member or plate C. The arm E comprises two members 28 and 29 adjustably connected to a member 3G hereinafter referred to as the elbow member. The elbow member 39 has two grooves 3l and 32 formed therein within which the members 28 and 29, respectively, are adapted to t, and at the intersection of these grooves the member is provided with a stud 33, the outer end of which is threaded for the reception of a winged nut 3d. The upper and lower members 28 and 29 are provided with a plurality of holes 35 adapted to fit over the stud 33 and by virtue of which the length of the arm E may be readily adjusted to simulate various commercial sizes or lengths of the particular make of lateral arm in question.

In commercial practice the drop of the awning is usually figured from the center of the canvas roller represented in the present embodiment by the axis of the screw I3, and for any given commercial awning fixtures the minimum distance of thisY center out from the face of the building or the rear of the awning recess is fixed and remains constant for various conditions such as projection and drop, as well as is the minimum distance that the horizontal pivot for the lateral arm is out rom the face of the building or the rear of the awning recess. The distance of the horizontal pivot about which the lateral arm is adjustable,

below the center of the awning roller is also known and for the most part remains constant. In the present instance the line 39 on the member or plate C represents the wall upon which the awning roller and lateral arm fixtures are supported, which wall may be either the face of the building or the rear wall of an awning recess, and the pivot 25 in the present instance is located a distance from the line 39 on the member C which, on the reduced scale used, corresponds to the actual distance in practice that the horizontal pivot of the lateral arm in question is away from its supporting surface. In like manner the distance that the pivot 25 is below the center line 36 of the roller corresponds to the actual distance used in practice.

In the present device the face of the building is represented by the line 31 on the anchor plate B and by virtue of the slidable connection between the anchor plate B and the member C the line 39 on the member C which, as previously stated, represents the surface to which the fixtures are attached can be moved up until it coincides With the line 31, in which event the device simulates the condition where the awning is attached to the face of the building. Alternatively the member C can be moved towards the left any desired distance to simulate awning recesses of diierent horizontal depth. A scale along the upper left hand edge of the anchor plate B corresponds to the actual horizontal depth of the full sized awning recess in inches. the member C positioned to simulate the conditions when the awning is located in a recess having a horizontal depth of ten inches.

In the present embodiment the upper or rear edge 38 of the member C corresponds to the top of the awning recess, or, better, that part thereof to the left of the line 31 which represents the face of the building corresponds to the top of the awning recess. The minimum distance of the center of the awning roller below the top of the awning recess is for the most part ixed for any given commercial awning fixture and the distance of the center line of the screw I3, which corresponds to the center of the roller, below the upper edge 38 of the member C in the present instance corresponds thereto.

The particular commercial lateral arms with which the present device is especially designed to be used are made up in different sizes the total lengths of which vary in increments of six inches, or three inches for each the upper and the lower parts, and the holes 35 in the members 28 and 29 correspond to arms of different lengths, i. e., when the pivot or stud 33 projects through the two holes marked 5 the arm E simulates a ve foot lateral arm, and so forth. The right hand part of the board A is laid out in squares corresponding to projections in feet from the face of the building represented by the line 31 and to dropY in feet from the center ofthe canvas roller represented by the axis of the screw I3.

AIn order that a better understanding ofthe device and the manner in which it operates may be had, let us assume that we would like to ascertain the length or size of lateral arm required to produce a lateral arm type awning having a projection of 5 feet 6 inches and a drop of 4 feet under two conditions, rst with the awning iixtures attached to the face of the building, and second, with the awning Xtures located in an awning recess having a horizontal depth of l0 inches. Referring specically to the first condition the member C is moved to the right until the line 35 coincides with the line 31, which is The full lines in Fig. 1 show the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, to simulate the condition when the awning is attached to the face of the building. Reading the projection along'the projection scale at the top of the board and the drop along the scale atthe right hand edge of the board A it will be seen that the point X corresponds to a projection of feet 6 inches and a drop of 4 feet. Manipulation of the members 28 and 29 on the elbow member 30 quickly shows that when the stud 33 is placed in the holes marked or numbered 1 the end of the member 29, which end corresponds to the front bar of the awning, comes closest to the point X, from which it follows that a '7 foot arm is the correct size of arm to use.

Alternatively when the awning fixtures are to be located in an awning recess having a horizontal depth of inches, which is the second condition assumed above, the member C is moved to the left until the line 39 coincides with the 10 mark on the horizontal scale along the left hand upper or rear edge of the anchor plate B, which is the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Manipulation of the members 28 and 29 on the pivot 33 quickly shows that when the pivot 33 is in the holes midway between the holes marked 1 and 8, which holes correspond to a 71/2 foot arm, the end of the arm comes closest to the point X. The foregoing shows that the first condition assumedabove requires a 7 foot lateral arm while the second condition requires a 'l1/2 foot lateral arm. It will be apparent that the size or length of arm required to produce a lateral arm type awning of any given projection 0r drop can be readily determined for any condition.

As previously stated, when the awning is to be located in an awning recess it is necessary to determine, in addition to the length of the lateral arm required, the minimum size of awning recess which will accommodate the same. In the present device the upper or rear edge 38 of the member C corresponds to the top of the awning recess, and the upper or rear edge 40 of the member D is made to correspond to the bottom of the awning recess. During the determination of the required length or size of lateral arm the member D is moved to a lower position so that the upper or rear right corner thereof will not interfere with the pivotal movement of the arm E, but after the arm E has been set to the correct size and while it is being held with the end thereof nearest the correct point on the chart corresponding to the desired projection and drop, the member D is raised or moved toward the rear or top of the board A until the right hand upper corner thereof strikes or engages the arm E. The next indication below the upper edge 40 of the member D on a vertical scale on the member C, the zero of which scale corresponds to the upper or rear edge 38 of the plate which in turn represents the top of the awning recess, is the minimum vertical dimension of the awning recess in inches which will accommodate the lateral arm, or awning in question.

When it is desired to use the device for a different commercial awning or awning fixture a correspondingly different plate and pivoted arm is substituted in the present device for the plate C and its attached arm E, shown. If desired the member or board A can be hinged along the line I1, mid-Way between the ends thereof. This permits the board or member A to be folded when not in use and facilitates shipment, storage and handling thereof. Various modifications of the device will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it relates'. For example the member or plate B may be omitted altogether and the notations or lines thereon formed directly on the board A. In like manner the interference member or plate D may be omitted and an opening cut in the lower part of the member C so that the line 31 would be visible therethrough adjacent the vertical scale on the member C, which scale would then be moved over to the right to a position adjacent said opening. It will also be apparent that the device may be modified so that it is adjustable to simulate only a few of the numerous conditions which the preferred embodiment herein disclosed is capable of representing or to determine only either the length of arm or the size of awning recess.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention it will be apparent that the objects of the invention heretofore enumerated have been attained and that a new and improved device has been provided for readily determining the length of lateral arm required to produce a lateral arm type awning having a predetermined projection and drop, and/or the size of an awning recess required to accommodate any particular awning of the aforesaid type. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction shown, which as already shown may be varied within the scope of this invention.

It is my intention to cover all adaptations, modifications and uses of the device that come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and I particularly point out and claim as my invention the following:

1. An awning calculating device of the character described comprising a support having linear scales arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof representing projection and drop of an awning respectively, an extensible arm simulating an arm of a lateral arm type awning, and

` means for pvotably supporting said arm in predetermined relation to the zeros of said scales for movement about an axis normal to the plane of said support, said extensible arm having a scale thereon representing various lengths of awning arms.

2. An awning calculating device of the character described comprising a support having linear scales arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof representing projection and drop of an awning respectively, said support having a third linear scale arranged transversely thereof representing height or Width of awning recess opening, an extensible arm simulating an arm of a lateral arm type awning, and means for pivotably supporting said arm in predetermined relation to the zeros of said scales for movement about an axis normal to the plane of said support, said arml having a scale thereon representing various lengths of awning arms. v

3. A device of the character described comprising a support having linear scales arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof representing projection and drop of an awning respectively, said support having a third linear scale arranged transversely thereof representing the height of awning recess, an extensible arm simulating an arm of a lateral arm type awning, means for pivotably supporting said arm in predetermined relation to the zeros of said scales for movement about an axis normal to the plane of said support, said arm having a scale thereon representing various lengths of awning arms, and a member adjustable along the third mentioned linear scale and adapted to engage said arm.

4. An awning calculating device of the charac--A ter described comprising a support having linear scales arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof representing projection and drop of an awning respectively, said support having a third linear scale arranged longitudinally thereof representing depth of awning recess, a member carried by said support and adjustable lineally of said longitudinal scales, an extensible arm simulating an arm of a lateral arm type awning, and means for pivotally supporting said arm on said member for movement about an axis normal to the plane of said support, said arm having a scale thereon representing various lengths of awning arms.

5. An awning calculating device of the character described comprising a support having linear scales arranged longitudinally and transversely thereof representing projection and drop of an awning respectively, said support having a third linear scale arranged longitudinally thereof representing depth of awning recess, a member adjustable longitudinally of said support and having'a linear scale arranged transversely of said support representing height of awning recess opening, an extensible arm simulating an arm of a lateral arm type awning, means for pivotably supporting said arm on said member in predetermined relation to the zero of the last mentioned linear scale for movement about an axis normal to the plane of said supp-ort, said arm having a scale thereon representing various lengths of awning arms, and a member adjustable transversely of said support along the scale representing height of awning recess opening and adapted to engage said extensible arm.

EDWARD H. SCHANE. 

